ALIASES:

DNSChanger.f.gen.a (McAfee); Packed.Generic.200 (Symantec); Packed.Win32.TDSS.a (Kaspersky); ERROR (Sunbelt); Trojan horse FakeAlert.EL (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 135,168 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Jul 2013

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Autostart Technique

This Trojan registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\
services\TDSSserv.sys
start = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\
services\TDSSserv.sys
type = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\
services\TDSSserv.sys
imagepath = "\systemroot\system32\drivers\TDSSserv.sys"

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\
services\TDSSserv.sys

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • T:\T
  • %User Temp%\TDSS3563.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\
windows nt\currentversion\tdssdata

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
build = "standart"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
type = "clicker"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
affid = "20"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
subid = "v300"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\
windows nt\currentversion\tdssdata
affid = "20"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\
windows nt\currentversion\tdssdata
subid = "v300"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\TDSS3543.tmp
  • \?\globalroot\systemroot\system32\drivers\TDSSserv.sys
  • %System Root%\S
  • %User Temp%\TDSS3563.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\currentcontrolset\services
    • TDSSserv.sys
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software
    • TDSS
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion
    • tdssdata

Step 4

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
    • build = "standart"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
    • type = "clicker"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
    • affid = "20"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\TDSS
    • subid = "v300"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\tdssdata
    • affid = "20"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\tdssdata
    • subid = "v300"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %User Temp%\TDSS3543.tmp
  • \?\globalroot\systemroot\system32\drivers\TDSSserv.sys
  • %System Root%\S
  • %User Temp%\TDSS3563.tmp

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_TDSS.BHH. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.

Step 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • T:\T
  • %User Temp%\TDSS3563.tmp


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